1.I can’t find my eyeglasses even though I’m wearing them.
2.I loose my keys constantly.
3. I have no idea what your name is right now unless I get a hint.
With all the talk about Alzheimer’s, worry about memory is, well, a worry. But it’s not just forgetfulness that scares me; it’s the ability to learn and stay current in a world, during a time that is changing in complicated ways.
How do I make my brain great again? And if not great, because really it never was, how do I make, keep my brain facile?
Do those Brain games work?
Short answer, yes and no. They work to improve the task you’re playing with. If you are playing a game to increase your memory using a concentration board then you will increase your memory using a concentration board, however, there is no evidence that your 
generalised memory will improve. If you are using
Soduko to improve your analytic ability, you will improve analytically with regard to Soduko, but it doesn’t carry over. So, do they help? Yes, but not in the way we hope.
What does work?
Recently studies about all the new brain technology are too inconclusive. Scientists have difficulty agreeing on the efficacy of the experiments, but they do agree on three ways to increase and improve our brain skills into old age;
- Exercise. Forty-five minutes a day. Sorry but that’s the number one method.
- Social interaction. Make friends. Be a friend. Have lots of conversations about lots of stuff with friends.
- Learn new things. The reason games don’t work is because they only work one small task but learning something new uses the whole of the brain. This also helps with having lots of conversation about lots of stuff. My life is busy how do I learn something new?
Isn’t the internet great? I mean this is the easiest of the three because the internet is filled with free online courses from reputable schools. They are self-paced, so these courses won’t become another pressure in an already pressured life. There are a wide variety so I can find subjects that really interest me. Right now I’m taking courses in communication and Christian apologetics from Harvard. Last fall I took a course in Churchill’s leadership from Hillsdale College. All of them are free, but the reward has been huge.
Help. How do I find these courses?
*EdX. “Founded by Harvard University and MIT in 2012, EdX is an online learning destination and MOOC provider, offering high-quality courses from the world’s best universities and institutions to learners everywhere”.
They have courses from Artificial Intelligence to Stravinsky; from engineering to poetry. They have classes to improve your leadership skills or understand the ethics of eating. I felt smarter just looking over their 1273 courses.
Added bonus, many of these courses are certificate bearing, so I can use them to improve my job skills.
*Openculture also has over 1200 course. Openculture offers more multimedia courses with less formality. It’s a combination of cultural and traditional class. From opera to childrearing, even learn a new language, it’s all free.
The amount of things I struggle to remember seems to be growing at an alarming rate. Anything that I can do to keep this brain muscle going is going to be tried!
Thanks for sharing these links. I’m always up for learning something new!!
I had a long chat with a friend this weekend about all of this. Luminosity, learning new languages, learning to play new instruments, and things as simple as driving a different way home from the grocery store.
I need to step it up. I’ve watched my aging parents – – 83 and 77 – – and they are so cognitively with it thanks to all of these sorts of things.
Yes to driving a different way. Any way to keep switching things up and surprising our brain.
I’ve noticed that when I spend too much time in my head, particularly after being at the computer writing, my ability to relate to people in real life takes a hit. It’s as if I’m on a 2-second time delay when it comes to conversations; I’m just a beat behind because I’m still “editing” what I’m going to say, like I do when I’m writing. Which speaks to why it’s important to socialize!
So true. When all my primary conversations are on social media and are one line at a time, my real live social brain also goes on a brain delay.
Really interesting!! I do like Lumosity (and here’s my post if you haven’t seen it already: http://biggreenpen.com/2017/01/22/brain-health-10-lessons-from-lumosity/ …. BUT I have to say this —- ever since I started an additional part-time gig on 1/19 that operates on newsroom speed AND expects me to be highly accurate, that has done at LEAST as much or more for me as Lumosity did. It’s a good kind of pressure.
I love Luminosity and had lots of fun with it. Then my granddaughter turned me on to Talking Tom which had the same games but for free.
All of these ideas are wonderful! I read a lot and I am constantly starting something new too so I can challenge myself. Keeps me you:)
Excellent insights. I appreciated your comments on the value of brain games; I had often wondered the same thing. I will be happy trying to keep my brain active in other ways. 🙂
I love Edx! I have always done the exact same thing. Since I was in my twenty’s and a stay at home going crazy. I would take online classes which were really through the mail courses, but it kept me sane then why not now!
This is pretty interesting. Doesn’t really surprise me though. You have to exercise your muscles so why not your brain.
I’ve always thought of exercising my mind and my body as two separate things. Good to know I’m multitasking! I will check out the online courses too. Thanks for the good advice.
Oh no! Did I suggest more multi-tasking? 😉
I love learning new things! EdX is great. Saylor.org is another great one, and ALISON courses! I’ve tried out all of them!